Feynman is perhaps the only person in the world to have
been judged both mentally incompetent by a U.S. Army psychiatrist and worthy
of a Nobel Prize by the Swedish Academy. Besides having been one of the
world's greatest physicists, he was a safe cracker, a creative artist, played
in a Brazilian samba band, and solved the riddle of the Challenger shuttle
explosion. These two books are filled with anecdotes from a fascinating life.

Neils Bohr: A Centenary Volume, Edited by A.P. French and P.J. Kennedy

Genius, James Gleick

The biography of Richard Feynman written by a long-time
personal friend.

Harriet Brooks, Marelene Rayner-Canham and Geoffrey Rayner-Canham

Galileo's Daughter, Dana Sobel

The recent best-seller about Galileo's life as revealed in
his daughter's letters

Pioneers of Science: Nobel Prize Winners in Physics, Robert Weber

Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton, Richard S. Westfall

Astronomy

Atoms,
Stars, and Nebulae, Lawrence Aller

Cosmic Dawn, Eric Chaisson

Written in clear, non-technical terms, the book covers
cosmic evolution - the concept of inter-relatedness that traces the
transformation of simple atoms into galaxies, stars, planets, and life.

Galaxies, Timothy Ferris

A "coffee-table book" with lots of full colour pictures and
descriptions of nearby and distant galaxies of all shapes, sizes and colours.

The History of the Universe, Stephen Hawking

Black Holes, Baby Universes, and Other Essays, Stephen Hawking

From Quarks to the Cosmos, Leon M. Lederman and David N. Schramm

(Scientific American Library)

Watchers of the Stars, Patrick Moore

Exploring Planetary Worlds, David Morrison

(Scientific American Library)

Stardust to Planets, Harry McSween, Jr.

Comet, Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan

The Hubble Atlas of Galaxies, Alan Sandage

A must-see book, this is in the reference section of the
library. Although originally designed for researchers, it shows the
awe-inspiring diversity of galaxy shapes and sizes.

The Big Bang, Joseph Silk

The First Three Minutes, Steven Weinberg

The New Cosmic Onion, Frank Close

An updated popular level explanation of new cosmological
theories, including multi-universes

The
Telescope: Its History, Technology, and Future, Geoff Andersen

A non-technical introduction, just in time for the 400th
anniversary of Galileo's celestial use of the telescope.

Physics

Particle Century, edited by Gordon Fraser

Fly in the Cathedral, Brian
Cathcart

Making of the Atomic Bomb, Richard Rhodes

An incredible account of early modern physics and how the
discovery of fission developed into the Manhatten Project.

The Hunting of the Quark, Michael Riordan

Facts
and Mysteries in Elementary Particle Physics, Martinus Veltman

A comprehensive overview of some of the greatest
discoveries in 20th century science, from Einstein's theory of relativity to
the Higg's particle.

Flatland,
Edwin A. Abbott

This science fiction classic about life in a
two-dimensional world will help you understand relativity and other concepts
of modern science better than most texts.

A Stress Analysis of a Strapless Evening Gown, Edited by Robert A.
Baker

A collection of essays of satiric science and scientific
satire. One of the great nonsense classics in science.

The Character of Physical Law, Richard Feynman

Based on a series of popular radio talks broadcast by the
BBC, this non-technical collection is evidence for Feynman's reputation as a
great teacher.

30 Years That Shook Physics, George Gamow

Mr. Thompkins in Paperback, George Gamow

Science - Good, Bad, And Bogus, Martin Gardner

Or anything else by the same author.

The Elegant Universe, Brian Greene

A description of the development of the unified theory
of superstrings.

Measuring the Earth with a Stick: Science as I've Seen It, Bob
McDonald

Host of CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks discusses the
similarities between art and science.

Powers of Ten, Philip and Phyllis Morrison

Based on the classic film of the same name by The Office of Charles
and Ray Eames. (Scientific American Library)

The Particle Garden, Gordon Kane

The Particle Hunters, Ne'eman & Kirsh

Perfect Symmetry, Heinz Pagels

The Cosmic Code, Heinz Pagels

From Atoms to Quarks, James Trefil

A Random Walk in Science, compiled by Robert L. Weber

More Random Walks in Science, compiled by Robert L. Weber

Two anthologies of anecdotes and humour related to science
and intended for casual reading.

A magazine for the intermediate to advanced amateur (and
professional) astronomer, with astronomical history, how-to information on
telescopes, cameras, and software, many photographs, and stories of
international amateurs and observatories. The website can be set to give local
sun and rise/set times.